Method and apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous workpiece from a stack of fibrous workpieces and for separating the differentiated workpiece from the stack

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack of fibrous material workpieces and for separating the differentiated workpiece from the stack which operates reliably over long periods of time. A plurality of workpiece gripping means have a plurality of barblike members located thereon, the barblike members including stop surfaces on the lowest extremity and material or fiber-mass engaging elements on the outer extremity. The fiber-mass engaging elements on the barblike members on one of the gripping means extend outwardly in one direction while the fiber-mass engaging elements of the barblike members on another gripping means extend outwardly in the opposite direction. Drive means actuate the plurality of gripping means causing them to make depressed contact on the top workpiece and bulge up or mound up the surface of the material of the workpiece around the fiber-mass engaging elements and to move relative to one another causing the fiber-mass engaging elements to engage the bulge of the material thus entering the mass or body of the material of the top workpiece and stretch or place under tension that portion of the material of the workpiece between the gripping means. The drive means causes relative movement of the gripping means away from the stack while continuing to engage the mass and the remainder of the the top piece. A separator plate means moves between the top workpiece and the remainder of the stack to complete the differentiation of the top workpiece from the stack. The plurality of gripping means move from the gripping position back to the initial position to release the material and stripping means strip the gripping means from engagement with the mass of the top workpiece.

llnited States Patent 72] Inventor Herman Rovin East Norwalk, Conn.

[21 Appl. No. 880,769

[22] Filed Nov. 28, 1969 [45} Patented Dec. 7, 1971 [73] Assignee Ivanhoe Research Corporation New York, N.Y.

[54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIFFERENTIATING THE TOP FIBROUS WORKPIECE FROM A STACK OF FIBROUS WORKPIECES AND FOR SEPARATING THE DIFFERENTIATED WORKPIECE FROM THE Primary Examiner-J. Wegbreit AnomeyBryan, Parmelee, Johnson & Bollinger 1 mam ABSTRACT: A method and apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack of fibrous material workpieces and for separating the differentiated workpiece from the stack which operates reliably over long periods of time. A plurality of workpiece gripping means have a plurality of barblike members located thereon, the barblike members including stop surfaces on the lowest extremity and material or fiber-mass engaging elements on the outer extremity. The fiber-mass engaging elements on the barblike members on one of the gripping means extend outwardly in one direction while the fiber-mass engaging elements of the barblike members on another gripping means extend outwardly in the opposite direction. Drive means actuate the plurality of gripping means causing them to make depressed contact on the top workpiece and bulge up or mound up the surface of the material of the workpiece around the fiber-mass engaging elements and to move relative to one another causing the fiber-mass engaging elements to engage the bulge of the material thus entering the mass or body of the material of the top workpiece and stretch or place under tension that portion of the material of the workpiece between the gripping means. The drive means causes relative movement of the gripping means away from the stack while continuing to engage the mass and the remainder of the the top piece. A separator plate means moves between the top workpiece and the remainder of the stack to complete the differentiation of the top workpiece from the stack. The plurality of gripping means move from the gripping position back to the initial position to release the material and stripping means strip the gripping means from engagement with the mass ofthe top workpiece.

PATENIED nEc 71am SHEET 2 BF 4 fimoPlll FIG. 6

. INVENTOR.

HERMAN R0 Vl/V METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIFFERENTIATING THE TOP FIBROUS WORKPIECE FROM A STACK OF FIBROUS WORKPIECES AND FOR SEPARATING THE DIFFERENTIATED WORKPIECE FROM THE STACK A novel method and apparatus are described for differentiating and separating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack of fibrous material workpieces and for separating the differentiated workpiece from the stack.

As known in the art numerous problems have been encountered in trying to differentiate or pick off an individual fibrous workpiece from a stack of such pieces. Such fibrous material is generally pervious making it extremely difficult to reliably and rapidly separate individual workpieces one at a time from a stack.

Means heretofore employed have used perforating or piercing needles which drive through the material obliquely as the material lies flat thus often contacting the layer or workpiece below the piece intended to be separated and therefore tend to lift more than one piece at a time and have therefore required a blast of air through multiple outlet openings to separate the second layer from the top layer, the second layer having been pierced and lifted, as described in US. Pat. No. 3,176,979 to Engelmann.

A novel method for differentiating the top fibrous workpiece from a stack of fibrous workpieces and for separating the differentiated workpiece from a stack of workpieces is herein disclosed. Each barblike member may be physically described as a pointed foot since each member includes a substantially flat portion on its lower surface which is lowered on to the upper surface of the workpiece to be differentiated. The flat portion of the pointed foot makes physical depression in the surface of the material nesting, or pressing down below the normal plane of the surface of the material. Depression of the foot causes the material to mound up or bulge up around the foot thus providing a mass of material into which the pointed foot element or toe may be driven without perforating or going through the material. By moving the oppositely facing barbs in opposite directions (each barb moved in the direction in which it is pointed) the body of the material of the top layer is pierced but not run through or' perforated and the material between the opposing barbs is placed under tension. The resulting tension stretches the top workpiece and causes that region of the material under tension to shear itself away from or to separate from the next piece. With a region of the top workpiece separated from the adjacent region of the next workpiece the gripping means are moved away from the adjacent workpiece thereby increasing the separation between the two workpieces. A separating plate slides between the separated workpieces and completes the full separation of the workpieces. Thus the top fibrous material workpiece is differentiated from a stack of workpieces. The gripping means are moved so as to relieve the tension created on the region of the differentiated workpiece and disengage the oppositely facing barbs. A stripping force is applied to ensure release of the workpiece from the barblike members.

As described, the apparatus includes a plurality of workpiece gripping means, each gripping means including a plurality of barblike members extending therefrom. The barblike members on a first one of said gripping means have material depressing surfaces and fiber-engaging feet extending downwardly and outwardly in one direction and the members of a second of the gripping means having material depressing surfaces and fiber-engaging feet extending downwardly (as the first-mentioned gripping means) and outwardly in the opposite direction. Each barblike member includes a flat or stop surface which makes depressing contact into the material of the top workpiece. Such depressed contact displaces the fibrous material of the workpiece so as to bulge or mound up around the foot of the barblike member without skewing the top workpiece. The barblike member extends outwardly into a pointed foot element which may be driven into the bulging or mounded up mass of the material of the workpiece. Drive means are provided for bringing the plurality of gripping means into contact with the top fibrous workpiece so the barblike members make depressed contact with the upper surface of the top workpiece. The gripping means are moved relative to each other so as to increase the separation between the gripping means causing the plurality of downwardly extending feet to engage the mass of the material of the top workpiece by driving into or engaging the bulged or mounded up material between the top and bottom surfaces of the workpiece. In so doing that part of the material of the workpiece between the increasedly separated gripping means is stretched or placed under tension resulting in that portion of the workpiece under tension shearing itself away from the workpiece adjacent to the region of the workpiece then under tension.

While the mass of material is thus engaged, the gripping means are moved vertically away from the stack increasing the separation of the region under tension from the adjacent workpiece in the stack while maintaining the gripping means in their extended, separated position. Separating plate means are interposed by insertion between the engaged top workpiece and the remainder of the stack of workpieces to complete total separation by breaking the remaining adherence between the top workpiece and the stack and thus isolate the top workpiece from the remainder of the stack. This separating plate means serves to support the single top workpiece separated from the remainder of the stack when the differentiated workpiece is released. The gripping means are moved relative to each other to relieve the tension created on the region of the then differentiated workpiece and stripping means are operated to ensure release of the workpiece.

It is an advantage of the present invention to both rapidly and reliably differentiate and separate individual fibrous material workpieces one at a time from a stack of workpieces. Further, this performance is achieved by providing an apparatus of modest cost. Moreover, the method and apparatus of the present invention operate reliably time after time when handling very difi'icult to separate workpieces, particularly knit goods.

The various aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a presently preferred embodiment of the differentiating and separating apparatus of the present invention for handling very limp material such as knit goods;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the initial position of the apparatus as it starts to be actuated by the drive means;

FIG. 2a is a view of the top structure of the apparatus and condition as illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 3-6 are perspective views similar to FIG. 2 showing the relative positions of the apparatus at sequential stages of an operating cycle;

FIGS. 4a and 6a are views of the top structure of the apparatus and condition as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6, respectively;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view with portions cut away, showing the gripping means and stripping means;

FIG. 8 is a partial side elevational view showing the gripping means including the barblike members including the flat or stop surfaces and the pointed foot elements, in their starting position;

FIG. 9 shows the gripping means including the barblike members moved into position contacting the top surface of the top fibrous workpiece;

FIG. 10 shows the barblike members engaging the mass of the material when the respective gripping means are moved relatively into their gripping position; the resulting tension causes the localized region of the top workpiece to shear away from the next piece in the stack;

FIG. II shows the gripping means moved away from the stack while maintaining engagement with the mass of the material for increasing the separation of the localized region from the stack and with the separating plate means being inserted;

FIG. 12 shows the gripping means moving toward their elevated initial position, the start position, with the stripping means in operation;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view illustrating the relationship between the stop surfaces and the pointed footlike, fiber-engaging element of the barblike members, and

FIG. 13a is a plane view of the barblike members of FIG. 13 illustrating the pointed contour of the foot element.

Referring in detail to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown the ap paratus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack of fibrous material workpieces and for separating the differentiated workpiece from the stack. Gripping means generally indicated at 2 are driven by drive means shown as motor 4 which actuates cam means 6. The cam means 6 is arranged to cause the gripping means 2 to engage, grip, and retract the top fibrous workpiece from a stack of such workpieces. As will be explained in detail below, the operation can be repeated for as many of the fibrous workpieces as desired to be individually separated from the stack.

To commence operation, the drive motor 4, which includes a speed-reducing gear train, is energized by switching on the electric power to rotate a shaft 7 having toothed pulley wheels 9 and 10 attached thereto. The shaft 7 extends down below the frame and has separating plate means attached thereto and capable of rotating therewith. A timing belt 11 connects the drive pulley 9 to a driven pulley 13 of the same size on another shaft 14. The shaft 14 extends down below frame 15 and has a gear 16 located thereon which meshes with another gear 17 driving a shaft 18 in the opposite direction from the shaft 7. The shaft 18 is connected to another separating plate means 21, which revolves in the opposite direction from plate 20, as will be explained further below.

Another timing belt 12 connects the pulley 9 to a pulley 22 connected to the cam means 6. The cam means 6 is supported by a framework 24 attached to the frame 15 and having upper and lower mounting plates 26 and 28 secured by spacer rods 27. A main shaft 30 extends vertically through the mounting plates 26 and 28 and drives the gripping means 2 in opposite directions as will be explained in connection with FIG. 7. The cam means 6 is arranged substantially concentric about the main shaft 30. Main shaft 30 passes through a vertically movable plunger element 32. Plunger 32 includes a shoulder element 33 to which is connected a cam follower roller or lug 34. Cam follower 34 is biased against the face 40 of the cam means 6 by a spring 41 so that cam follower 34 will follow the contour of the cam face 40 as the cam means 6 rotates.

The cam means 6 includes a heat portion 36 and body portion 38. The lower peripheral surface of the body portion 38 forms the cam face or track 40. When the cam means 6 is driven by the belt 12, it rotates freely about the main shaft 30, and the cam track 40 urges the biased roller lug 34, and therefore, the plunger element 32 downwardly lowering a member 33 (FIG. 7) attached to the lower end of the plunger element. Immediately below the cam follower 34, the plunger 32 has an annular shoulder 33. A compression spring 41 surrounds the plunger for exerting an upward thrust on the plunger 32 and the shoulder 33 so that the lug 34 will follow the cam face 40 thus to raise and lower the gripping means 2 as the contour of cam face 40 follows the body of the cam means 6 upward. The lower end of spring 41 seats on the lower mounting plate 28. The plunger 32 is slidingly keyed to the base plate 28 to prevent rotation of this plunger while permitting it to move up and down.

The head portion 36 of the cam means 6 defines a second cam track 42 (see also FIGS. 2a and 40) on its upper surface. A cam follower lever 44 is pivotally attached to the upper mounting plate 26 and is slidably coupled to the main shaft 30 via a pin 35 on the main shaft collar 31. The main shaft collar 31 is fixed to the main shaft 30 by a set pin 37. Spring means 46 extends between a mounting pin 29 on the upper plate 26 and the end of the pin 35 for urging this lever and the main shaft 30 into their respective initial positions. As the cam means 6 rotates the cam 42 engages the cam follower lever 44,

causing the lever 44 to pivot about its mounting pin. As the lever 44 pivots, the main shaft collar 31 and main shaft 30 are urged by the pin 35 sliding in the slot on the cam lever 44 causing the main shaft 30 to rotate. This rotation of the main shaft 30 (FIG. 4a) causes a spur gear 48 (FIG. 7), coupled to the main shaft 30, and operatively associated with the gripping means 2, to rotate. Gear racks 50 and 52, which are slidably mounted in in the member 33 and are connected to the respective gripping means 2, engage with the spur gear 48 so that the racks 50 and 52 are moved in opposing directions, causing the gripping means 2 to move apart to assume a gripping position as shown in FIG. 10. The gripping means 2 includes a pair of head elements 51 and 53, which are secured to the respective racks 50 and 52 by means of set screws 55 (as shown in FIG. 7).

A cam means 54 (FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6) is attached to the cylindrical body portion 38 of the cam means 6. As the cam means 6 rotates, the cam 54 revolves therewith. A spring push rod 56 is engaged by the face or track of cam 54, as seen in FIG. 5, and is urged downwardly by the cam means 54. The push rod 56 contacts a movable actuator 58 which forces the stripping means 60 (FIGS. 7 and I2) downwardly for disengaging the mass of the fibrous workpiece from the gripping means 2. A spring 61 surrounds the push rod 56 biasing the rod upwardly.

The gripping means 2 include a plurality of rows of barblike members 62 (FIGS. 8, I3, and 13a) mounted on the respective gripping heads 51 and 53. Portions of the barblike members 62 extend downwardly and outwardly in opposite directions. Stop surfaces 64, best seen in FIGS. 8, l2, and 13, are immediately adjacent to the downwardly and outwardly extending portions and prevent the barblike members 62 from penetrating into the material of the top workpiece 66. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the flat or stop surfaces 64 of the members 62 make depressed contact with the material 66 and cause the material to bulge or mound up around the foot element 57, as shown by the bulges or mounds of material, 66a. FIG. 13a illustrates the preformed form of the pointed contour of the foot element 57. It is noted that the illustrative barblike members 62 are in the form of a pointed foot having a sole or flat bottom stop surface 64. Each gripping means includes an array of such barblike members with all the pointed foot elements of the same gripping means pointed in the same direction and with each group of pointed elements on their respective gripping means pointed back-to-back in opposite directions. The fiat bottom or stop surface 64 of each pointed foot makes depressionlike contact with the surface of the material of the workpiece to be differentiated. Each stop surface 64 descends to a plane below the plane of the surface of the material and in so doing displaces the material around the pointed foot thereby causing the material to mound up or bulge up thus providing a mass of the material for the pointed foot 57 to pierce or engage when the gripping means are moved away from each other. It will be appreciated that the length of the pointed foot 57 will be a determining factor in determining the distance necessary to move the gripping means to effect engagement. Further movement of the gripping means in the same direction will exert a tension on the material of the workpiece particularly in the localized region between the areas of engagement.

When working with some materials, the material may not noticeably mound up or bulge up when depressed contact is made by the stop surfaces. It is sufficient that the engaging action of the pointed foot occur when the pointed foot of the barblike member is in a plane below the normal plane of the top surface of the material of the workpiece but above the plane of the bottom surface of the same workpiece in the Iocalized area of depression. In other materials depressed contact may be made into the nap of the material and engagement of the material by the pointed foot may be made into the nap rather than the mass of the material itself. In this latter case the normal plane of top of the material is considered to be the plane at the level of the top of the nap.

The stripping means 60 include a series of stripper blades 70 located between the row of barblike members 62. These stripper blades 70 are secured to bars 72 which are pivotally mounted on the respective gripper heads SI and 53 so that the stripper blades 70 can each be swung down arcuately, in the general direction in which the associated feet of the associated gripper heads are pointing. As shown by the arrows 71 in FIG. 12 the stripper blades 70 each descend arcuately to a position beyond the stop surfaces 64 of the barblike members 62. This ensures release of the workpiece from the pointed foot elements 57. The stripping actuator 58 is forced downwardly under the force of push rod 56, and the legs of this actuator 58 push down a pair of levers 74 which are connected to the pivot rods 76 attached to the bars 72. A tension spring 78 (FIG. 7) extending between the gripper head 51 and the lever 74 serves to retract the stripper blades 70. There is a similar retractor spring (not shown) for the other gripper head 53.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 3-6, 2a, 4a and 6a, the sequential motions of the various elements, and cam means relative to the cam followers are shown. In FIG. 3 the cam means 6 has begun rotating as driven by timing belt 12 and the separating plates and 21 have been swung away from their initial position below the gripping means 2. This initial position is seen in FIGS. 1 and 8.

The cam follower 34 connected to plunger element 32 follows the cam 40 downwardly, lowering the member 33 and hence moving the gripping means 2 down into the depressed contact position with respect to the top surface of the fibrous material workpiece, as seen in FIG. 9. When the gripping means is in this depressed contact position, the cam 42 causes the cam follower lever 44 to pivot and cause rotation of the main shaft 30, so that spur gear 48 will move the racks 50 and 52 outward in opposite directions, thus moving the gripping head elements 51 and 53 further apart, as seen in FIG. 10. As the barblike members 62 move, the pointed feet elements engage the mass or body of the fibrous workpiece. Continued movement of the barblike members subjects the localized region of the workpiece, between the gripping heads, to a condition of tension thus stretching such localized region. As the localized region of the workpiece stretches the material of such region shears or breaks away from the adjacent workpiece of the stack, see FIG. 10.

It is to be clearly noted that, as shown in FIG. 13, the barblike member 62 is contoured so as to include a horizontal stop surface 64. Looking at the barblike member as a foot, the bottom of the foot (or sole) is flat and the upper part (or instep) is tapered to the end or toe. FIG. 13a shows that the foot includes a double taper since the width tapers to a point (at the toe). It will be appreciated that the pointed foot illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 13a are a preferred structural embodiment, and actual contour of the pointed foot may vary somewhat. Such diviation from the contour illustrated is practical because of the size of the barblike member.

Further it will be seen the bottom of the barblike member makes depressed contact with the workpiece 66 so that the foot portion of the barblike member is actually below the top surface of the workpiece. The stop surface or bottom 64 prevents or stops the barblike member from piercing or engaging the workpiece upon initial contact. After the initial or depressed contact is made, the pointed foot is actually below the normal top surface of the workpiece and when the respective gripping means are moved (in the direction in which the feet of the respective gripping means are pointing) the pointed or tapered foot engages the mass of the workpiece. The resulting localized stretching or tension on the top workpiece 66 causes the region under tension to shear away from or break the adherence between it and the adjacent workpiece of the stack 68 in the local region between the two areas in which the mass is engaged.

The cam means 6 then lifts the gripping heads 51 and 53 with respect to the stack, further separating the localized region of the top workpiece as shown in FIG. 11. While the engaged part of the top workpiece 66 is being lifted away from the adjacent workpiece in the stack, as shown in FIG. 11, revolving separating plates 20 and 21 are progressively inserted into the space 67 to complete the separation between the two workpieces and thereby assume a position between the top workpiece 66, held by the barblike members 62 and the adjacent workpiece of the stack 68. These separating plates 20 and 21 accomplish total separation between the top workpiece 66 and the adjacent workpiece of the stack 68 which separation was started by the shearing action resulting from the localized tension.

Continued rotation of the cam 42 releases lever 44 and the spring 46 returns the main shaft collar 31 and main shaft 30 sharply to their initial rotational position. Return of the main shaft rotates the coupled gear 48 driving the racks 50 and 52 to their initial (retracted) (FIG. 60) position. This retracts the gripping heads 51 and 53. Retraction of the gripping heads relieves the tension placed on the localized region of the top workpiece and disengages the pointed foot elements from the mass of the material of the workpiece. After retraction of the heads 51 and 53, cam 54 actuates the push rod 56 to actuate the stripping blades 70 ensuring release of the workpiece from the barblike members 62. The separated workpiece is thus deposited upon the separating plates 20 and 21, as shown in FIG. I2.

The apparatus of the preferred embodiment is arranged so that a workpiece may be completely differentiated and separated from its associated stack in one rotational cycle of the cam means 6. Upon retraction of the gripping means 2 the barblike members are disengaged from the mass of the differentiated workpiece and the tension exerted upon the workpiece is relieved. In such condition the workpiece then differentiated is functionally separated from the gripping means and is free to come to rest on the separating plates 20 and 21. In order to ensure complete final separation of the workpiece from the gripping means the stripping means 60 is actuated substantially simultaneously with the final part of the retraction of the gripping means 2. To prevent hangup of the material on the barblike members the respective stripping means operates in the direction in which the associated feet are pointing. The workpiece is thus assuredly deposited on the separating plates 20 and 21 in readiness to be removed or transferred from the separating plate as an isolated workpiece, separated from a stack of workpieces.

It should be understood by one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications in the method and in the arrangement, construction and/or structure of individual components comprising the apparatus herein disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. For example, the pair of separating plates 20 and 21 have corners and 81 which are arranged to enter into the space 67 between the separated region of the top workpiece 66 and the stack 68. As these separating plates 20 and 21 revolve further, they effectively spread apart from the space 67 to peel the top workpiece off from the stack to complete the separation. In lieu of this pair of separator plates, a single tapered separator plate can be inserted into the space 67. As it is inserted farther its increasing width effectively spreads outwardly from the initial space 67 to peel the top workpiece away from the stack and complete the separation of the top workpiece from the stack. In addition, the contour or structure of the barblike members may be changed somewhat so as to reduce the pointed configuration of the foot element to a stub which engages the mass of the material of the workpiece without actually piercing or entering the fiber elements of the material. Another modification may include pivot mounting each barblike member on the respective gripping means and moving the barblike members pivotally to effect engagement of the mass of the material after depressed contact with the material of the workpiece is made.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of fabric workpieces and for separating the differentiated fabric workpiece from the stack including the steps of:

engaging the mass of said top fabric workpiece at opposite ends of a localized area of said top fabric workpiece;

placing the said localized area under tension by separating said engaged ends and thereby causing the said localized area to separate from the adjacent area of the next fabric workpiece; lifting the separated area of said top fabric workpiece to increase the separation between said localized area of said top fabric workpiece and said next fabric workpiece;

inserting a plurality of relatively movable separator means in contracted position between said localized area and said next workpiece and spreading said separator means so as to enlarge its area between said fabric workpieces beyond said localized area to complete the separation of the top fabric workpiece from said stack.

2. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack as in claim 1 and further including relieving tension of the said localized area for releasing said fabric workpiece.

3. A method for differentiating the fabric workpiece from a stack as in claim 1 and further including relieving tension of the said localized area and stripping the mass of said opposite ends of said localized area from engagement.

4. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of fabric workpieces and for separating the differentiated fabric workpiece from the stack including the steps of:

making depressed contact upon the top surface of said top fabric workpiece in two separated areas of said top fabric workpiece; engaging the mass of said two spaced areas and separating the engaged areas, thereby placing the region between said two spaced areas under tension for causing said top fabric workpiece to loosen said region of itself from the adjacent region of the next fabric workpiece in the stack;

lifting said two spaced areas for separating said region of said top fabric workpiece from said adjacent region of said next fabric workpiece;

inserting spreadable separator means between said separated region and said next fabric workpiece and effectively spreading said separator means so as to enlarge its area between said fabric workpieces beyond the area of said separated region to complete the separation of said top fabric workpiece from said stack.

5. A method of differentiating the top workpiece from a stack of fabric workpieces as in claim 4 and further including;

relieving the tension placed on said region between the said two spaced areas for releasing said fabric workpiece.

6. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of workpieces as in claim 4 and further including:

relieving the tension placed on said region between said two spaced areas and disengaging the mass of said fabric workpiece in said two spaced areas.

7. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of workpieces as in claim 4 and further including relieving the tension placed on said region between said two spaced areas and stripping the said mass of said top fabric workpiece in said two spaced areas from engagement.

8. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of fabric workpieces and for separating the differentiated fabric workpiece from the stack including the steps of:

making depressed contact upon the top surface of said top fabric workpiece in two spaced areas of said top fabric workpiece;

applying substantially equal and opposite forces away from each other to said two spaced areas for engaging the mass of said top fabric workpiece in said two spaced areas and for applying tension to the localized region between said two spaced areas;

lifting said two spaced areas for separating said localized region from said next fabric workpiece, and

inserting a spreadable separator means into the space beneath said region and spreading said separator means outwardly from said space so as to increase its area between said fabric workpieces to complete the separation of said top fabric workpiece from said stack.

9. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of workpieces as in claim 8 and further including the steps of:

applying substantially equal and opposite forces toward each other to said two spaced areas for relieving the tension applied to said localized region and for disengaging said mass of said top fabric workpiece.

10. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of workpieces as in claim 8 and further including the steps of:

applying substantially equal and opposite forces toward each other to said two spaced areas for relieving the tension applied to said localized region and for disengaging said mass of said top fabric workpiece and stripping the material of said two spaced areas of said top fabric workpiece from engagement.

11. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of fabric workpieces and for separating the differentiated fabric workpiece from the stack including the steps of:

making depressed contact upon the top surface of said top fabric workpiece in two spaced areas while avoiding engagement with the mass of the material of said top fabric workpiece;

engaging the mass of said material of said top fabric workpiece in each of said two spaced areas;

applying tension to the region of said material between said two spaced areas by applying opposite forces away from each other to said two spaced areas, said opposite forces being applied in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the normal surface of said workpiece;

lifting said two spaced areas and the said region between them for lifting said region under tension from said next fabric workpiece and inserting a spreadable separator means into the space beneath said lifted region and spreading said separator means outwardly from said space so as to increase its area between said fabric workpieces to complete the separation of said top fabric workpiece from said next fabric workpiece in said stack.

12. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of workpieces as in claim 11 and further including the steps of:

relieving the tension to said region by relieving the application of suit opposite forces applied to said two spaced areas and disengaging the mass of said material.

13. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of workpieces as in claim 11 and further including the steps of;

relieving the tension applied to said region between said two spaced areas;

disengaging the said mass of said material and stripping said mass from engagement for ensuring release of said top fabric workpiece.

14. Apparatus for engaging and separating the top workpiece from a stack of workpieces comprising;

first gripper means arranged to make depressed contact with the top surface of said top workpiece in a first area said first gripper means including a plurality of barblike members each including a footlike element having a substantially flat surface for preventing engagement of the material of said top workpiece by said barblike members upon making such depressed contact and an instep and toe component pointing outwardly in a first direction,

second gripper means arranged to make depressed contact with said top surface in a second area, said second gripper means including a plurality of barblike members each including a footlike element having a substantially flat surface for preventing engagement of the material of said top workpiece by said barblike members upon making such depressed contact and an instep and toe component point outwardly in a second direction.

15. Apparatus for engaging and separating the top workpiece from a stack as in claim 14 and further including means for driving said first gripper means and said second gripper means into depressed contact with said first and second areas respectively.

16. Apparatus for engaging and separating the top workpiece from a stack as in claim 14 and further including first means for driving said first gripper means and said second gripper means from a noncontacting position into depressed contact with said first and second areas respectively and second means for driving said first gripper means in said first direction and for driving said second gripper means in said second direction for engaging the mass of the material of said first area by the footlike elements of said first gripper means and for engaging the mass of the material of said second area by the footlike elements of said second gripper means.

17. Apparatus for engaging and separating the top workpiece from a stack as in claim 14 and further including first means for driving said first and second gripper means from a noncontacting position into depressed contact with said first and second areas respectively,

means for separating said first gripper means from said second gripper means after depressed contact has been made for effecting engagement by the footlike elements of said first gripper means with the material of said top workpiece of said first area and for effecting engagement by the footlike elements of said second gripper means with the material of said top workpiece of said second area.

18. Apparatus for engaging and separating the top workpiece from a stack as in claim 14 and further including first means for driving said first and second gripper means from a noncontacting position into depressed contact with said first and second areas respectively means for separating said first gripper from said second gripper means after depressed contact has been made for effecting engagement by the footlike elements of said first gripper means with the mass of said top workpiece of said first area and for effecting engagement by the footlike elements of said second gripper means with the mass of said top workpiece of said second area for exerting tension on the region of said top workpiece between said first and second areas for separating said region from the corresponding region of the next workpiece in the stack.

l9. Apparatus for engaging and separating the top workpiece from a stack as in claim 18 and further including second means for lifting said first and second gripper means from the position of depressed contact for lifting said first and second areas of said top workpiece from said stack for increasing the separation between said region of said top workpiece and said corresponding region of said next workpiece, and

separator plate means and means for inserting said separator plate means into the separation between said region of said top workpiece and said corresponding region of said next workpiece and for effectively spreading said separator plate means for completing the separation of said top workpiece from said next workpiece in said stack. 20. Apparatus for engaging and separating the top workpiece from a stack as in claim 19 and further including means for reducing the separation of said first and second gripper means for returning said first and second gripper means to the original relative spaced condition for effecting disengagement of said footlike elements of the respective said first and second gripper means from the mass of the respective said first and second areas of said top workpiece and for relieving tension on said region of said top workpiece and stripper means individual to each of said first and second gripper means for stripping the mass from the said footlike elements of the said respective first and second gripper means for ensuring release of said top workpiece from said first and second gripper means.

21. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack of fibrous material workpieces and for separating the differentiated workpiece from the stack comprising:

at least first and second fibrous material workpiece grippers in spaced relation, each of said grippers including at least one footlike member projecting therefrom and having a substantially flat lower surface and an outwardly projecting part, the outwardly projecting part of said first fibrous material workpiece gripper projecting in one direction and the outwardly projecting part of said second fibrous material workpiece gripper projecting in another direction, means for positioning said first and second workpiece grippets in spaced contact with the top fibrous material workpiece so that the said substantially flat lower surface of said footlike members are in a plane substantially below the normal plane of the top surface of said top workpiece and substantially above the plane of the bottom surface of said top workpiece in the respective areas of contact,

means operable for engaging the mass of the material of said top workpiece by said outwardly projecting point of said footlike member of each of said workpiece grippers and for applying tension so that part of the top workpiece between the said areas of contact, means for repositioning said first and second workpiece grippers for lifting the said top workpiece by the engaged mass, away from the next workpiece in the stack,

separator means insertable between said top workpiece and said next workpiece and entering between said workpiece in the vicinity of the said respective areas of contact for completing the separation of said top workpiece from said stack.

22. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack as in claim 21 and further including means operable for disengaging said outwardly projecting part of said footlike member of each of said workpiece grippers from the said mass of the material of said top workpiece.

23. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack as in claim 21 and further including means operable for disengaging said outwardly projecting part of said footlike member of each of said workpiece grippers from the said mass of the material of said top workpiece and strippers means individual to each said first and second grippers, operable generally in the direction of the respective outwardly projecting parts for ensuring disengagement of the mass for said outwardly projecting parts.

24. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack of fibrous material workpieces and for separating the differentiated workpiece from the stack com- 75 prising:

a pair of spaced grippers arranged to contact the top workpiece of the stack of fibrous material workpiece in spaced relation each of the grippers of said pair of spaced grippers including a plurality of barblike members attached thereto and having a downwardly extending component and an outwardly extending component and a substantially flat stop surface at the outward extremity thereof,

means for effecting contact by said plurality of barblike members upon the top surface of said top workpiece such that the said substantially flat stop surfaces are positioned below the normal top surface of said top workpiece and above the bottom surface of said top workpiece and,

means for engaging the outwardly extending component of each of said barblike members with the mass of said top workpiece for selectively engaging the material of the top workpiece in the stack.

25. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack of fibrous material workpieces as in claim 24 and further including means for moving said pair of spaced grippers away from said stack while maintaining engagement of said outwardly extending components with said mass.

26. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack of fibrous workpieces as in claim 25 and further including separator means insertable between that part of said top workpiece engaged by said outwardly extending components and the next workpiece in the stack and advanced between the remainder of said top workpiece and the next workpiece.

27. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack of fibrous material workpieces as in claim 26 and further including means for extracting said outwardly extending components from said mass.

28. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack of fibrous material workpieces as in claim 27 and further including means for stripping the material of said mass of said top workpiece from said outwardly extending components for releasing said top workpiece from said pair of grippers.

29. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous workpiece from a stack of fibrous workpieces and for separating the differentiated workpiece from the stack comprising:

a pair of spaced grippers adapted to contact the top workpiece of the stack of fibrous workpieces, each of the grippers of said pair of spaced grippers including a plurality of barblike members attached thereto and having a downwardly extending component terminating in a stop surface, and an outwardly extending component, said stop surface following the lower extremity of said outwardly extending component,

means for driving said pair of spaced grippers for making contact by said barblike members with the upper surface of said top workpiece in said stack so that said stop surface makes depressed contact in said upper surface without engaging the material of said top workpiece, and

means for moving said barblike members of one spaced gripper with respect to the other spaced gripper for engaging the mass of said top workpiece by said outwardly extending component.

30. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous workpiece from a stack of fibrous workpieces as in claim 29 and further including means for further moving said barblike members of one spaced gripper with respect to the other while said outwardly extending components are engaging the mass of said top workpiece for applying tension to the region of said top workpiece between the mass engaged by the outwardly extending components of the barblike members of one of the grippers of said pair of spaced grippers and the mass engaged by the outwardly extending components of the barb ike members of the other of the grippers of said pair of grippers for initiating separation of the said region of the said top workpiece from a corresponding region of the next workpiece in the stack.

31. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous workpiece from a stack of fibrous workpieces as in claim 30 and further including:

means for driving said pair of spaced grippers away from said stack while maintaining engagement of said top workpiece for increasing said initiated separation.

32. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous workpiece from a stack of fibrous workpieces as in claim 31 and further including:

separator means for entering the separation between said region of said top workpiece and said corresponding region for completing separation of said top workpiece from said stack of workpieces.

33. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous workpiece from a stack of fibrous workpieces as in claim 32 and further including:

means for moving said barblike members out of engagement with said mas for disengaging said top workpiece from said outwardly extending components.

34. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous workpiece from a stack of fibrous workpieces as in claim 33 and further including:

stripper means individual to each gripper of said pair of grippers, operable in the direction of the outwardly extending component associated with the same gripper for ensuring release of said top workpiece from said pair of spaced grippers.

t t i t 

1. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of fabric workpieces and for separating the differentiated fabric workpiece from the stack including the steps of: engaging the mass of said top fabric workpiece at opposite ends of a localized area of said top fabric workpiece; placing the said localized area under tension by separating said engaged ends and thereby causing the said localized area to separate from the adjacent area of the next fabric workpiece; lifting the separated area of said top fabric workpiece to increase the separation between said localized area of said top fabric workpiece and said next fabric workpiece; inserting a plurality of relatively movable separator means in contracted position between said localized area and said next workpiece and spreading said separator means so as to enlarge its area between said fabric workpieces beyond said localized area to complete the separation of the top fabric workpiece from said stack.
 2. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack as in claim 1 and further including relieving tension of the said localized area for releasing said fabric workpiece.
 3. A method for differentiating the fabric workpiece from a stack as in claim 1 and further including relieving tension of the said localized area and stripping the mass of said opposite ends of said localized area from engagement.
 4. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of fabric workpieces and for separating the differentiated fabric workpiece from the stack including the steps of: making depressed contact upon the top surface of said top fabric workpiece in two separated areas of said top fabric workpiece; engaging the mass of said two spaced areas and separating the engaged areas, thereby placing the region between said two spaced areas under tension for causing said top fabric workpiece to loosen said region of itself from the adjacent region of the next fabric workpiece in the stack; lifting said two spaced areas for separating said region of said top fabric workpiece from said adjacent region of said next fabric workpiece; inserting spreadable separator means between said separated region and said next fabric workpiece and effectively spreading said separator means so as to enlarge its area between said fabric workpieces beyond the area of said separated region to complete the separation of said top fabric workpiece from said stack.
 5. A method of differentiating the top workpiece from a stack of fabric workpieces as in claim 4 and further including; relieving the tension placed on said region between the said two spaced areas for releasing said fabric workpiece.
 6. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of workpieces as in claim 4 and further including: relieving the tension placed on said region between said two spaced areas and disengaging the mass of said top fabric workpiece in said two spaced areas.
 7. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of workpieces as in claim 4 and further including relieving the tension placed on said region between said two spaced areas and stripping the said mass of said top fabric workpiece in said two spaced areas from engagement.
 8. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of fabric workpieces and for separating the differentiated fabric workpiece from the stack including the steps of: making depressed contact upon the top surface of said top fabric workpiece in two spaced areas of said top fabric workpiece; applying substantially equal and opposite forces away from each other to said two spaced areas for engaging the mass of said top fabric workpiece in said two spaced areas and for applying tension to the localized region between said two spaced areas; lifting said two spaced areas for separating said localized region from said next fabric workpiece, and inserting a spreadable separator means into the space beneath said region and spreading said separator means outwardly from said space so as to increase its area between said fabric workpieces to complete the separation of said top fabric workpiece from said stack.
 9. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of workpieces as in claim 8 and further including the steps of: applying substantially equal and opposite forces toward each other to said two spaced areas for relieving the tension applied to said localized region and for disengaGing said mass of said top fabric workpiece.
 10. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of workpieces as in claim 8 and further including the steps of: applying substantially equal and opposite forces toward each other to said two spaced areas for relieving the tension applied to said localized region and for disengaging said mass of said top fabric workpiece and stripping the material of said two spaced areas of said top fabric workpiece from engagement.
 11. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of fabric workpieces and for separating the differentiated fabric workpiece from the stack including the steps of: making depressed contact upon the top surface of said top fabric workpiece in two spaced areas while avoiding engagement with the mass of the material of said top fabric workpiece; engaging the mass of said material of said top fabric workpiece in each of said two spaced areas; applying tension to the region of said material between said two spaced areas by applying opposite forces away from each other to said two spaced areas, said opposite forces being applied in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the normal surface of said workpiece; lifting said two spaced areas and the said region between them for lifting said region under tension from said next fabric workpiece and inserting a spreadable separator means into the space beneath said lifted region and spreading said separator means outwardly from said space so as to increase its area between said fabric workpieces to complete the separation of said top fabric workpiece from said next fabric workpiece in said stack.
 12. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of workpieces as in claim 11 and further including the steps of: relieving the tension to said region by relieving the application of said opposite forces applied to said two spaced areas and disengaging the mass of said material.
 13. A method of differentiating the top fabric workpiece from a stack of workpieces as in claim 11 and further including the steps of; relieving the tension applied to said region between said two spaced areas; disengaging the said mass of said material and stripping said mass from engagement for ensuring release of said top fabric workpiece.
 14. Apparatus for engaging and separating the top workpiece from a stack of workpieces comprising; first gripper means arranged to make depressed contact with the top surface of said top workpiece in a first area said first gripper means including a plurality of barblike members each including a footlike element having a substantially flat surface for preventing engagement of the material of said top workpiece by said barblike members upon making such depressed contact and an instep and toe component pointing outwardly in a first direction, second gripper means arranged to make depressed contact with said top surface in a second area, said second gripper means including a plurality of barblike members each including a footlike element having a substantially flat surface for preventing engagement of the material of said top workpiece by said barblike members upon making such depressed contact and an instep and toe component point outwardly in a second direction.
 15. Apparatus for engaging and separating the top workpiece from a stack as in claim 14 and further including means for driving said first gripper means and said second gripper means into depressed contact with said first and second areas respectively.
 16. Apparatus for engaging and separating the top workpiece from a stack as in claim 14 and further including first means for driving said first gripper means and said second gripper means from a noncontacting position into depressed contact with said first and second areas respectively and second means for driving said first gripper means in said first direction and for driving said sEcond gripper means in said second direction for engaging the mass of the material of said first area by the footlike elements of said first gripper means and for engaging the mass of the material of said second area by the footlike elements of said second gripper means.
 17. Apparatus for engaging and separating the top workpiece from a stack as in claim 14 and further including first means for driving said first and second gripper means from a noncontacting position into depressed contact with said first and second areas respectively, means for separating said first gripper means from said second gripper means after depressed contact has been made for effecting engagement by the footlike elements of said first gripper means with the material of said top workpiece of said first area and for effecting engagement by the footlike elements of said second gripper means with the material of said top workpiece of said second area.
 18. Apparatus for engaging and separating the top workpiece from a stack as in claim 14 and further including first means for driving said first and second gripper means from a noncontacting position into depressed contact with said first and second areas respectively means for separating said first gripper from said second gripper means after depressed contact has been made for effecting engagement by the footlike elements of said first gripper means with the mass of said top workpiece of said first area and for effecting engagement by the footlike elements of said second gripper means with the mass of said top workpiece of said second area for exerting tension on the region of said top workpiece between said first and second areas for separating said region from the corresponding region of the next workpiece in the stack.
 19. Apparatus for engaging and separating the top workpiece from a stack as in claim 18 and further including second means for lifting said first and second gripper means from the position of depressed contact for lifting said first and second areas of said top workpiece from said stack for increasing the separation between said region of said top workpiece and said corresponding region of said next workpiece, and separator plate means and means for inserting said separator plate means into the separation between said region of said top workpiece and said corresponding region of said next workpiece and for effectively spreading said separator plate means for completing the separation of said top workpiece from said next workpiece in said stack.
 20. Apparatus for engaging and separating the top workpiece from a stack as in claim 19 and further including means for reducing the separation of said first and second gripper means for returning said first and second gripper means to the original relative spaced condition for effecting disengagement of said footlike elements of the respective said first and second gripper means from the mass of the respective said first and second areas of said top workpiece and for relieving tension on said region of said top workpiece and stripper means individual to each of said first and second gripper means for stripping the mass from the said footlike elements of the said respective first and second gripper means for ensuring release of said top workpiece from said first and second gripper means.
 21. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack of fibrous material workpieces and for separating the differentiated workpiece from the stack comprising: at least first and second fibrous material workpiece grippers in spaced relation, each of said grippers including at least one footlike member projecting therefrom and having a substantially flat lower surface and an outwardly projecting part, the outwardly projecting part of said first fibrous material workpiece gripper projecting in one direction and the outwardly projecting part of said second fibrous material workpiece gripper projecting in another direction, means for positioning said first and second workpiece grippers in spaced contact with the top fibrous material workpiece so that the said substantially flat lower surface of said footlike members are in a plane substantially below the normal plane of the top surface of said top workpiece and substantially above the plane of the bottom surface of said top workpiece in the respective areas of contact, means operable for engaging the mass of the material of said top workpiece by said outwardly projecting point of said footlike member of each of said workpiece grippers and for applying tension so that part of the top workpiece between the said areas of contact, means for repositioning said first and second workpiece grippers for lifting the said top workpiece by the engaged mass, away from the next workpiece in the stack, separator means insertable between said top workpiece and said next workpiece and entering between said workpiece in the vicinity of the said respective areas of contact for completing the separation of said top workpiece from said stack.
 22. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack as in claim 21 and further including means operable for disengaging said outwardly projecting part of said footlike member of each of said workpiece grippers from the said mass of the material of said top workpiece.
 23. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack as in claim 21 and further including means operable for disengaging said outwardly projecting part of said footlike member of each of said workpiece grippers from the said mass of the material of said top workpiece and strippers means individual to each said first and second grippers, operable generally in the direction of the respective outwardly projecting parts for ensuring disengagement of the mass for said outwardly projecting parts.
 24. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack of fibrous material workpieces and for separating the differentiated workpiece from the stack comprising: a pair of spaced grippers arranged to contact the top workpiece of the stack of fibrous material workpiece in spaced relation each of the grippers of said pair of spaced grippers including a plurality of barblike members attached thereto and having a downwardly extending component and an outwardly extending component and a substantially flat stop surface at the outward extremity thereof, means for effecting contact by said plurality of barblike members upon the top surface of said top workpiece such that the said substantially flat stop surfaces are positioned below the normal top surface of said top workpiece and above the bottom surface of said top workpiece and, means for engaging the outwardly extending component of each of said barblike members with the mass of said top workpiece for selectively engaging the material of the top workpiece in the stack.
 25. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack of fibrous material workpieces as in claim 24 and further including means for moving said pair of spaced grippers away from said stack while maintaining engagement of said outwardly extending components with said mass.
 26. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack of fibrous workpieces as in claim 25 and further including separator means insertable between that part of said top workpiece engaged by said outwardly extending components and the next workpiece in the stack and advanced between the remainder of said top workpiece and the next workpiece.
 27. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack of fibrous material workpieces as in claim 26 and further including means for extracting said outwardly extending components from said mass.
 28. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack of fibrous material workpieces as in cLaim 27 and further including means for stripping the material of said mass of said top workpiece from said outwardly extending components for releasing said top workpiece from said pair of grippers.
 29. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous workpiece from a stack of fibrous workpieces and for separating the differentiated workpiece from the stack comprising: a pair of spaced grippers adapted to contact the top workpiece of the stack of fibrous workpieces, each of the grippers of said pair of spaced grippers including a plurality of barblike members attached thereto and having a downwardly extending component terminating in a stop surface, and an outwardly extending component, said stop surface following the lower extremity of said outwardly extending component, means for driving said pair of spaced grippers for making contact by said barblike members with the upper surface of said top workpiece in said stack so that said stop surface makes depressed contact in said upper surface without engaging the material of said top workpiece, and means for moving said barblike members of one spaced gripper with respect to the other spaced gripper for engaging the mass of said top workpiece by said outwardly extending component.
 30. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous workpiece from a stack of fibrous workpieces as in claim 29 and further including means for further moving said barblike members of one spaced gripper with respect to the other while said outwardly extending components are engaging the mass of said top workpiece for applying tension to the region of said top workpiece between the mass engaged by the outwardly extending components of the barblike members of one of the grippers of said pair of spaced grippers and the mass engaged by the outwardly extending components of the barblike members of the other of the grippers of said pair of grippers for initiating separation of the said region of the said top workpiece from a corresponding region of the next workpiece in the stack.
 31. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous workpiece from a stack of fibrous workpieces as in claim 30 and further including: means for driving said pair of spaced grippers away from said stack while maintaining engagement of said top workpiece for increasing said initiated separation.
 32. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous workpiece from a stack of fibrous workpieces as in claim 31 and further including: separator means for entering the separation between said region of said top workpiece and said corresponding region for completing separation of said top workpiece from said stack of workpieces.
 33. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous workpiece from a stack of fibrous workpieces as in claim 32 and further including: means for moving said barblike members out of engagement with said mass for disengaging said top workpiece from said outwardly extending components.
 34. Apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous workpiece from a stack of fibrous workpieces as in claim 33 and further including: stripper means individual to each gripper of said pair of grippers, operable in the direction of the outwardly extending component associated with the same gripper for ensuring release of said top workpiece from said pair of spaced grippers. 